The Kerala excise department will begin a bottle-return scheme for liquor bottles from September, charging an additional ₹20 on each bottle sold through Kerala State Beverages Corporation (Bevco) outlets. The amount will be refunded when the customer returns the empty bottle.
The scheme, announced as a pilot, will be implemented first in Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur districts.
Each bottle, glass or plastic, will carry a QR code to track returns and process refunds. Excise minister M B Rajesh said the ₹20 is not an added cost but a refundable deposit aimed at encouraging responsible disposal.
According to the department, the state sells about 70 crore liquor bottles annually, nearly 80% of which are plastic. Officials expect the move to help reduce bottle littering.
As part of the new measures, all liquor priced above ₹800 will now be sold only in glass bottles. The decision is aimed at reducing the environmental impact of plastic containers in the premium segment.
The scheme has been developed in partnership with Clean Kerala Company. Officials said the model is based on a similar return system already in place in Tamil Nadu, which has shown positive results.
Separately, the department is set to open Bevco’s first super premium outlet in Thrissur on August 5. The store will feature imported liquor priced above ₹900. The government plans to set up one such outlet in every district.
